Coin-operated vending-machine.



Ml HOFHEIMER.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. I908. RENEWED JUNE Is. 19:6.

1,21 5,659}: Patented Feb. 13, 1917 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

i J g 1;;

llllll 5 WITNESSES.

* INVENTOR M. HOFHEIMER.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 10. I908. RENEWED JUNE I51 I9I6.

1 ,21 5,659. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

M. HOFHEIMER.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10.1908. RENEWED JUNE I6, 1916.

1,215,659. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: v I INVEIYTOR Q 732% By 144, ana/mu mp mums PETERS co. rnamumn" WASHINGTON u c.

M. HOFHEIMER. COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1908. RENEWED JUNE 16. ms.

1,215,659. I Patented Feb. 13,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Jim arromvn ms mmms Pzrsns co.. PNOTD-LIIHQ wAsumc run. 4: cv

UNITED s'rarns rnrnnr orrion.

MAURICE HOFHEIMER, OF BALTIMOREMARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 AUTOSALES GUM AND CHOCOLATE COMPANY, 01* NEW' YOI tK, N. Y., A.

CORPORATION OF NEVVYORK.

COIN-OPERATED "YENDING-MACHINE;

Specification of Letters- Patent;

Patented Feb.'13, 1917.

Application filed. September 10, 1908, Serial No. 452,418. Renewed June 16, 1916. Serial No. 104,119.

To all whom it may concern. I I e Mk'onron -HOFHEIMER a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have in-; vent-ed certain new and useful Improve- Be it known that T,

ments in Coin-Operated Ven'ding-h Iachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin-operated he invention consists ofvending machines. various features hereinafter more particularly set forth By means of said invention described and may be made at comparatively small cost and which is adapted to be attached to the backs of seats for use in places of public assemblage. Certain features of the invention relate to an arrangement whereby one ejector operates in connection with two magazines for the packages, whereby compactness is secured; Another feature relates to simple and efficient means for closing the coin slot or coin chute when the last package in a magazine is ejected therefrom. Other features of the invention will appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompany ng drawings formlng part of this specificationand in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts, 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention, part of the casing being broken away to disclose the interior;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fi 3 1s a sectlonal plan view on the line 3 I? of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the front section of the casing removed and showing the back plate and the parts carried thereby;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. (3 is an interior elevation showing the coin detector andjclosure for the coin chute carried by the front plate;

Fi 7 is a front elevation )artl in sec in the claims. it'is sought to} provide a small compact inachine which shall be simple and efficient and one which plate of the casing and constituting one section thereof. 2 is the front plate of the easing having the side walls 3 and 4t and top wall 5 formed integral therewith. The part 1 may conveniently be referred to as the fiat section of the casing, while the section composed of the parts 2, 3, 4c 'and 5 may be called the box-likesection of the casing. 6 and 7 are two upright magazines arranged side by side or' abreastof each other. These maga- Zines are formed of sheet metal, are open at their tops and may be soldered or riveted to the face of the back plate 1. The magazine 6 is provided at its lower end. with frontand back rails 8 and 9 designed to support a stack of packages. The magazine 7 is provided with two similar rails 10 and 11. These magazines are separated a short distance from each other so as to provide at their lower ends a path for the coin, as will hereafter appear. Bridging this space and secured to the front faces of the magazines is' a guide 12 to direct the coin into said space. 13 is an ejectorbar for ejecting packages from the magazines. In the present form of the invention this ejector consists of a reciprocating bar or plate, provided with two sets of teeth 14 and 15. Between these sets of teeth is formed in the bar a recess 16 and at the ends of the teeth are formed smaller recesses 17 and 18. 19 is a dog carried on a stud 20 projecting centrally from the back plateand provided with a coiled spring 21 to' hold the dog in upright normal position, as shown in the drawings, with its point in the middle of recess 16. Secured to the front face of the ejector bar 13 is a coincarrier 22 providing a slot 23 to receive a coin. The outer end of this carrier is provided with a projection 2st. Directly beneath this carrier extends a plate 25 which is cut out of the back plate 1 and extends forward in a horizontal position, thus leaving an opening 26 in the back plate; The rear face of the ejector bar-13 is provided withastop pin 27 which contacts with the end walls of the opening 26 to limit the movement of the ejector bar 13 in either direction. The plate 25 constitutes a rail on which the coin is supported with its upper edge in line with the inner end of one of the packages, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The plate 25 extends over the top of the coin receptacle 28 and terminates a short distance from the side walls of the coin receptacle so as to provide inlet openin 29 and 30 thereto for the coins. The coin receptacle is secured to the face of the back plate 1 and is heart-shape in general contour. The front face of the coin receptacle is provided with two wings 81 and 32 whose upper ends provide supports for a rod 33. Centrally located on this rod is a fixed stop 34. 37 and 38 are retractile springs surrounding the rod 33 and operating to hold the collars 35 and 36 respectively against stop 34. Be tween these collars stands the projection 24 of the carrier 22.

The lower ends of the side walls 3 and 4 inclose the sides and bottom of the coin receptacle 28 and so as to provide delivery chutes 39 and 40 on either side of the coin receptacle for the delivery of packages by the ejector. The back plate 1 has a lower extension 42 which is bent forward to form a horizontal shelf 41 which stands a short distance below the casing and directly be neath the opening 43 of the front section of the casing. When a package is discharged from its magazine, it passes beyond the side walls of the coin receptacle and into one of the delivery chutes 39 or 40 and passes out through the opening 43 on to the shelf 41 from which it may be removed by the hand of the patron.

The operation of the parts above described is as follows :'lVhen a coin is received by the guide 12, it enters the space between the magazines and drops into the slot 23 of the carrier 22, and is supported in this slot by the rail 25. The ejector bar 13 is then pulled outward in either direction, the coin moving over the rail 25 until it passes beyond the rail 25 and drops out of the carrier through the inlet opening 29 or 30 into the coin receptacle 28. In the movement of the coin, it engages the lower package in the magazine and pushes it off its supporting rails, the package falling beyond the coin receptacle down one of the delivery chutes 39 or 40 on to the plate 41. In the movement of the ejector bar 13, the teeth wipe over the end of the pawl 19. For example, suppose the extractor bar 13 is pulled to the left, referring to Fig. 4. In this case, the teeth 15 wipe over the pawl and tilt it to the left until the pawl enters the recess 18 at the end of the bars movement. The pawl then moves to upright position by reason of its spring. When the ejector is released its spring 87 returns the ejector and the coin carrier to normal position by the pressure of the collar 35 against the projection 24 of the carrier. In this return movement, the teeth 15 wipe over the pawl 19 tilting the pawl to the right until it comes to rest in its upright position in the recess 16.

If the movement of the extractor bar to the left, as above described, is arrested be same way. Thus, by means of the pawl and teeth, the operator is insured of the delivery of one package and partial or uncompleted movements of the extractor bar to secure unauthorized delivery of a package is prevented.

The magazine 6 is shown as containing a column of chocolate packages 44 and magazine 7 is shown as containing a column of chewing gum packages 45. Resting on top of the packages in magazine 6 is a block 46 having a forwardly projecting lug 47, and resting on the packages in magazine 7 is a block 48. 49 is a lever working on the pivot pin 50 secured to the front plate 2. The upper end of this lever 49 is bent over to form a lip constituting a closure 51 adapted to close the coin slot 52 formed in the top wall 5 of the casing. The lower end of the lever is bent back to form a cam 53. In the normal position of the lever the closure 51 is out of register with the coin slot and the cam 53 is in line with the lug 47, as shown in Fig. 1. When the last chocolate package has been ejected from its magazine, the lug 47 engages the cam 53 so as to throw the lever over and cause the closure 51 to register with the coin slot 52. This prevents the depositing of a coin after the chocolate packages have been exhausted. When the last package in magazine 7 has been ejected, block 48 comes to rest upon the rails 10 and 11 and if a coin is thereafter dropped into the machine, block 48 bars the movement of the coin and its carrier to the left although the ejector may carry the coin to the right for ejecting a package in magazine 7, if the packages therein have not been exhausted. ()f course, the blocks 46 and 47 are interchangeable. by the arrangement of the blocks and lever that if the coin slot is open and a. coin is inserted therein, the machine may be operated to extract a package and the patron may be sure that he will not lose his coin.

54 is a magnet secured to the front plate 1 by stud 55. The upper side of the magnet is'inclined so that a coin passing through the coin slot will fall upon and run down the upper side of the magnet. 56 is a guide pin on the front plate 2 which insures the passage of the coin along the magnet. The

' momentum of the coin traveling. over the magnet is such as to cause it to jump over the guide pin 57 secured to the front plate 2 and against the side wall 3. It then falls upon the inwardly projecting and inclined flange 58 which lies against the front wall 2. This flange 58 is carried by the lower end of the gate 59 consisting of a sheet metal plate carried on the rod 60. The rod 60 extends across the inner side of the front plate 2 and is supported by the side walls 3 and l. The gate 59 is arranged to slide on this rod and is also capableof swinging thereon to and from the plate 2. It is provided at its upper end with the flange 61 projecting toward the plate 2 and extending directly underneath one end of the coin slot 52. It is held in normal position by a spring 63. The sliding movement of the gate 59 is limited by the side wall 3 and the pin 64 extending downwardly from the top wall 5. 65 is a guide wing carried by the gate to prevent the coin from falling laterally oil the magnet. Secured to the front plate 2 is an L shaped rail 66 which is the proper distance from and parallel with the flange 58. The distance of the rail from theflange is such that a proper coin of a proper diameter, such as an unmutilated penny 67, when moving down over the flange 58, will slightly overlap the rail 66, as shown in Fig. 1. The rail 66 is provided with a guide wing 68 projecting at an inclination from the plate 2. Rail 66 is also provided with a right angled flange 69 which terminates at one end in a cam 70. The space between the lower edge of the rail 66 and the flange 58 is of suflicient size to receive a slug or disk of a scant diameter or slightly less than that of a proper coin. This space forms a pocket which constitutes a trap for such a scant sized disk and, of course, is in communication with the coin chute. The coin chute extends from the coin slot between the front plate 2 and wing 65 along over the magnet, thence betweenthe gate 59 and plate 2, over the pin 57 to the wall 3, turning thence along the flange 58 and overlapping the lower edge of the rail 66, thence against the guide wing 68 through the guide 12 and to the coin carrier 22. The coin chute, as thus described, overlaps the lower edge of the rail 66 and communicating with this portion of the coin chute is the pocket for trapping a slug, said pocket lying between flange 58 and the lower edge of rail 66 but not overlapping this rail. The slug of scant diameter cannot pass out of this pocket to ward the guide wing 68 because of the down ward turn of the rail 66 which blocks its passage.

The gate 59 carries a lip 71 arranged to coiiperate with the cam 70. When a coin ispushed into the coin slot 52, it engages flange 61 of gate 59 and thrusts the gate to one side and in'opposition to its spring 63. As the gate moves laterally, its lip 71 moves over the cam/ of flange69, thus moving the gate away from plate 2. If a slug has been trapped in the pocket the movement of the gate by the insertion of a coin opens the pocket and permits the slug to drop down into the coin receptacle but without passing into the coin receiver 22.

The inner edge of the flange 58 is cut away along its inner portion to form a slot 72 narrower than the thickness of a proper coin butsufflcient' to receive a disk of scant thickness. Thus, when a slug consisting of a disk of scant thickness is deposited in the machine, it passes out of the coin chute through this slot 72. Or if it is trapped in the pocket, above described, with its lower edge projecting part way through this slot 72, it will escape when the next coin moves back the gate 59.

If an iron or other magnetizable disk is inserted in the coin slot, it will be deflected by the magnet so as to roll into a by-path along the flange 69 of rail 66, whence it passes between the front plate and lip 68, dropping into the coin receptacle at one side of the carrier 22. Y

7 3 and 7 4 are lips struck up from the sheet metal back plate 1. The lower ends of the magazines may be soldered to these lips, the lips providing a slide way for the ejector bar 13 beneath them and between the back plate and the magazines. 75 and 79 are U- shaped lips on the back plate which engage two lugs like 76 on the side walls 3 and 4:, respectively. 77 is a lug secured to the back plate 1 and arranged to enter a slot in the top wall 5 and be there held by a lock 7 8.

It will be seen that the side walls of the coin receptacle curve outwardly and are surrounded by the outer side walls of the package delivery chutes, these latter converging at their lower ends to a common exit opening and being open at theirupper ends to receive packages ejected from the magazines. The tortuous direction of each delivery chute prevents tampering .Wlth the machine by means of a wire or prod inserted through the delivery or exit opening.

While the preferred embodiment of the various features of the invention is shown in the drawings, it will be understood that many of these features may be variously modified and that various ones ofthem may be used in other relations without,- departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims: 1 V l 1. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having lateral discharge openings at their lower outer ends, a coin-carrier mounted mid-way beneath said magazines and freely operable in either direction from its central position to carry thegdeposited coin into ejecting'en'gagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, meansconnect,

the combination of a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having lateral discharge openings at their lower outer ends, a coin-carrier mounted mid-way beneath said magazines and freely operable in either direction from its central position tov carry the deposited coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, a pair of handles extending in opposite directions from said coin-carrier and projecting through the sides of said casing for manually operating said carrier in one direction or the other from its central position, and spring means for normally holding said carrier in a position mid-way of said magazines and automatically returning said carrier to normal position after every operation thereof.

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having lateral discharge openings at their lower outer ends, a coin-carrier mounted mid-way beneath said magazines, and

freely operable in either direction from its central position to carry the deposited coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, means connected with said coin-carrier and projecting out of said casing for manually operating said carrier in one direction or the other from its central position, spring means for normally holding said carrier in a position mid-way of said magazines and automatically returning said carrier to normal position after every operation thereof, and means to prevent return of said coin-carrier prior to a completion of its forward movement.

4. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having lateral discharge openings at their lower outer ends, a coin-carrier mounted mid-way beneath said magazines and freely operable inoeither direction from its central position to carry the deposited coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either said casing for manually operating saidcarrierin one direction or the other from its central position, spring means for normally holding said carrier in a position mid-way of said magazines and automatically returning said carrier to normal position after every operation thereof, and a coin-sustaining rail beneath said coin-carrier for holding the coin in the carrier during the ejecting movement in either direction and permitting the same to ejector bar arranged behind said magazines and provided with hand-operable means projecting through said sides of the casing, a coincarrier fixed to and extending forwardly from said bar and arranged beneath said magazines, and spring means for normally holding said coin-carrier midway of said magazines, whereby said coin-carrier is freely movable with said bar in either direction from its normal position to cause ejection of the packages from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, said spring means automatically returning the coin-carrier to normal after every operation thereof.

6. In a coin-controlled vending machine,

the combination of a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines havlng each a lateral discharge open-' ing at its lower outer end, a reciprocating ejector bar arranged behind said magazines. and provided at its ends with handle por-V tions which project through the sides of the casing, a coin-carrier fixed to and extending forwardly from said bar and arposition ranged beneath said magazines, spring means for normally holding said coincarrier mid-way of said magazines, whereby said coin-carrier is freely movable with said bar in either direction from its normal position to cause ejection of the packages from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, said spring means automatically returning the coin-carrier to normal position after every operation thereof, and means. to prevent return of said ejector bar and coin-carrier to normal position prior to completion of the forward movement thereof.

7 In a coin controlled machine, the combination of two magazines arranged side by side and having lateral discharge openings; a reciprocating ejector bar located behind said magazine and provided at its ends-with handle portions which project through the sides of the casing; a coin carrier fixed to lie m and extending forward from said bar and normally located beneath and between the;

delivery ends of said magazines, said carrier being movable with said bar in either direction from its normal position across both of said delivery ends for ejecting packages therefrom; afi xed rod in front of and parallel with said ejector bar and having a stop thereon; and coiled springs on said rod, onev on each side of said stop, and each arranged to be put under tension by an ejecting move ment of said ejector bar.

8. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of two magazines arranged side by side and having lateral discharge openings; a reciprocating ejector bar located behind said magazines and provided at its ends with handle portions which project through the sides of the casing; a coin carrier fixed to and extending forward from said bar and normally located beneath and between the delivery ends of said magazines, said carrier being movable with said bar in either direction from its normal position across both of said delivery ends for ejecting packages therefrom; a fixed rod in front of and parallel with said ejector bar and having a stop thereon; coiled springs on said rod, one on each side of said stop, and each arranged to be put under tension by an ejecting movement of said ejector bar; and means to prevent a return of said ejector bar and carrier to normal position after an uncompleted movement thereof.

9. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of two magazines arranged side by side and having lateral discharge openings; a reciprocating ejector bar located behind said magazines and provided at its ends with handle portions which project through the sides of the casing; a coin carrier fixed to and extending forward from said bar and normally located beneath and between the delivery ends of said magazines, said carrier being movable with said bar in either direction from its normal position across both of said delivery ends for ejecting packages therefrom; a fixed rod in front of and parallel with said ejector bar and having a stop thereon; coiled springs on said rod, one on each side of said stop, and each arranged to be put under tension by an ejecting movement of said ejector bar; and means to prevent a return of said ejector bar and carrier to normal position after an uncompleted movement thereof, said means comprising teeth on said ejector bar and a reversible dog for engaging said teeth.

10. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having each a lateral discharge opening at its lower outer end, a coin-carrier mounted mid-way be tween said magazines and freely operable in either direction from its coin-receiving position to carry the deposited coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, and means connected with said coin-carrier and extending out of said casing for manually operating said coin-carrier in one direction or the other to cause delivery of the packages from the desired magazine.

11. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, a single coin-carrier arranged beneath said magazines and normally held in a position to receive the deposited coin, manually operable means projecting out of said casing for moving said coin-carrier transversely of the machine in either direction from its normal position to carry the coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, and means to prevent return of the carrier prior to completion of its forward movement.

12. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing provided with two magazines arranged side by side, a common coin-carrier arranged beneath said magazines, spring means for normallyholding said coin-carrier in a position midway of said magazines to receive the deposited coin, and hand-operable means projecting out of said casing for moving the coin-carrier transversely of the machine in either direction from its normal position to carrythe coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine.

13. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing consisting of a box-like section and a flat section separably connected together to afford ready access to the interior of the easing, a magazine secured to said fiat section, a coin-chute secured to the main wall of said box-like section, and a coin-carrier operatively mounted on said fiat section to receive the coin from said chute and carry the same against the packages in said magazine.

14. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, each magazine being provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a common delivery member mounted to operate beneath said magazines to cause delivery of the lowermost package from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, spring means for normally holding said delivery member in a position midway of said magazines, so that said member may be operated in either direction to cause delivery from the desired magazine, and means projecting out of said casing to operate said delivery member.

15. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, each magazine being provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a sin- I gle slidable delivery member mounted to reciprocate beneath said magazines to cause delivery of the lowermost package from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, spring means for normally holding said delivery member in a position midway of said magazines, so that said member may be operated in either direction to cause delivery from the desired magazine, and means projecting out of said casing to reciprocate said delivery member.

16. In a coin-operated vending machine, a

casing having two magazines arranged side by side, each magazine being provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a common delivery member mounted to operate beneath said magazines to cause delivery of the lowermost package from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, spring means for normally holding said delivery member in a position midway of said magazines, so that said member may be operated in either direction 'to cause delivery from the desired magazine, and handles eX- tending from opposite sides of said casing for operating said member.

17. In a coin-operated vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, each magazine being provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a single slidable delivery member mounted to operate beneath said magazines to cause delivery of the lowermostpackage fromeither magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, spring means for normally holding said delivery member in a position midway of said magazines, so that said member may be operated in either direction to cause delivery from the desired magazine, and slidable handles extending from opposite sides of said casing for reciprocating said member. V

18. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a ca sing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having each a discharge opening at its lower end, a coincarrier mounted midway beneath said magazines and freely operable in either direction from its normal position, to carry the deposited coin into position to cause ejection of the lowermost package in either magazine, means connected with said coincarrier and projecting out of said casing for manually operating said carrier, and spring means for normally holding said carrier in a position midway of said magazines and automatically returning said carrier to normal position after every operation thereof. I

19. In a coinoperated vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side 'by side, each magazine having a dis charge opening at its lower outer end, said casing being at its lower end provided with a common delivery opening, a coincontrolled delivery device for ejecting the lowermost package from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, a pair of downwardly converging delivery chutes loading from the discharge openings in said magazines to said common delivery opening, and a coin-receptacle between said delivery chutes and above said delivery opening for receiving the coin from said e ectlng device.

20. In a coin-controlled vending machine,

a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having each a lateral discharge opening at its lower outer end, said casing being at its lower end provided with a common delivery opening, a coin-carrier midway between said magazines and freely operable in either direction from its coin-receiving position to carry the deposited coin into ejecting engagement with the lowermost package in either magazine, a pair of downwardly converging de livery chutes leading from the discharge openings in said magazines to said common. delivery opening, and means connected with said coin-carrier and extending'out of said casing for manually operating said coin-carrier in one direction or the other to cause delivery of the packages from the.

desired ma azine.

21.. In a com-controlled vending machine,

a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, each magazine having a discharge opening at its lower outer end, said casing being at its lower end provided with a delivery opening, a. coin-controlled delivery device mounted to operate beneathsaid magazines forejecting'the lowermost package from either magazine through the medium of the deposited coin, a pair of downwardly converging delivery chutes leading from the discharge openings in said magazines to said common delivery opening, and a coin-receptacle between said delivery chutes and beneath said delivery device for receiving the coin therefrom.

2- In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having two magazines arranged side by side, said magazines having each a lateral discharge opening at its lower outer MAURICE HOFHEIMER.

Vvitnesses Jae. L. MURRILL, Jos. H. DENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

